Admission for Non-Degree Study

Bemidji State University offers holders of a baccalaureate degree
the option for graduate study which, though it does not in and of
itself result in the conferring of a degree, allows students the
opportunity to improve their knowledge and expertise.

Graduate Special Student

Though not actually a member of a degree or certificate program, the Graduate Special Student may pursue graduate course work without a planned objective, but with the goal of personal and/or professional enrichment. In order to be approved to this status, students must complete a Graduate Special Student Application, along with a $20 application fee, and must have an earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. or approved international college or university.

A Graduate Special Student who subsequently is admitted for the purpose of pursuing a master's degree may be permitted to apply a maximum of ten (10) credits of graduate course work toward degree requirements.

Graduate Special Student status permits students to take courses for an indefinite period of time, provided that a 3.0 ("B") grade point average (GPA) is maintained. If the GPA falls below 3.0, the student will be placed on probation and permitted two (2) additional semester registrations. If a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0 is not achieved upon completion of these two (2) semesters of course work, the student will be dismissed from the graduate school. A Graduate Special Student may appeal by contacting the Dean, School of Graduate Studies. Students who have been dismissed because of a low GPA may continue study only on an audit basis.

Licensure Programs

The State of Minnesota grants licenses to students who complete
requirements set forth by various state agencies. Students pursuing specific degree and licensure programs are prepared by the department to apply for licensure with the state. Completion of all licensure requirements may result in the recommendation for licensure to the state of Minnesota.

Courses used to satisfy licensure requirements must be completed for a letter grade. All transfer course work and substitutions to be used in fulfilling licensure requirements must have the approval of the program director, the department chair, and the Registrar. Transcripts listing transfer courses must be on file in the Records and Registration Office.

Licensure recommendations for each program follow state and university regulations. For Professional Education licensure and Health licensure programs, the recommendation to endorse is made by the Registrar to the State of Minnesota Department of Education, Teacher Licensure Section.

Students seeking licensure programs should submit a Graduate Special Student Application, official transcripts from their undergraduate institution(s), and a $20 application fee. (Graduates of Bemidji State University are not required to provide transcripts. Students who have previously attended other institutions in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system will not be required to present those transcripts to the School of Graduate Studies.)

FasTrack Secondary Education Initiative

The FasTrack Secondary Initiative provides an alternative pathway to licensure by meeting the Minnesota Board of Teaching Standards of Effective Practice requirements via online coursework and portfolio. For additional information, students should visit the FasTrack website.

Students seeking to achieve licensure through the FasTrack program should submit a FasTrack Secondary Initiative Application, official transcripts from their undergraduate institution, and a $20 application fee.

Graduate Course Work by Undergraduates

Bemidji State University undergraduate seniors may register for graduate courses
at the 5000-level only. Seniors who will be graduating within one (1) semester
or summer term may petition to be considered for enrollment in graduate-level
courses provided that each of the following conditions is satisfied:

Approval is granted by the instructor, the department chair,
and the Dean, School of Graduate Studies.

The student is within eleven (11) credits of a baccalaureate
degree at the time of enrollment in graduate course
instruction.

The student has a cumulative undergraduate grade point average
(GPA) of at least 3.00.

The combined undergraduate and graduate credits attempted for
the semester do not exceed twelve (12) credits (or six [6]
credits for the summer). Undergraduate students who are seeking financial aid and wish to register for both undergraduate and graduate courses in the same term must contact the Financial Aid office.

The grades earned by an undergraduate student enrolled in graduate
courses will be used in computing the graduate GPA and cannot be
applied toward the undergraduate GPA. No course work completed at the
graduate level can be used to satisfy undergraduate degree
requirements.

Admission of Post-Master's Degree
Applicants

Post-master's degree students who have not previously attended BSU School of Graduate Studies and intend to pursue only course work are required to complete the Graduate Special Student Application, along with a $20 application fee. A student who has previously received a master's degree
from Bemidji State University is not required to apply for
re-admission to graduate study. However, the School of Graduate Studies
must be notified of the student's intent to pursue additional
graduate-level course work.